Auburn University art museum to host academic discussion on scent, sense of smell 

This Thursday, Nov. 17, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art will host a discussion among three experts on the history of scents and how smell can influence art, literature and even law.

University of California, Davis Professor of English and author Hsuan L. Hsu will be in attendance to give insight into his recent book “The Smell of Risk: Atmospheric Disparities and the Olfactory Arts.” He will be joined by multisensory artist Manon Bellet, whose scent extractions of the disappearing Mississippi Delta are featured in the museum’s “Radical Naturalism” exhibition.

The conversation will be moderated by Auburn University Associate Professor of English Emily C. Friedman, who specializes in the lived experiences of readers and writers of the 18th century, including how they understood scent. This in-depth look into olfactory aesthetics will begin at 6:30 p.m., but guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the museum’s exhibitions and café.

The event is free and open to the public, and more information on the speakers can be found at jcsm.auburn.edu/event/the-smell-of-risk/.

Submitted by: Mason Williams